Disclaimer: On occasion I forget to, or maybe opt not to write down the name of a quote's crafter. That said, if you find that I have quoted you and not given credit, I'd be glad to change that. Please advise me as to which quote is yours and I'd be delighted oblige! Also, if you find that you are credited with a quote you would rather not recieve credit for, the same pretty much applies. You may notice that for somebody who says so many ridiculous things, I don't include a huge quantity of personal quotations. This is because things said by myself are generally included only at the insistence of others, or as anonymous contributions. Want the same immunity? Write your own quotes! Enough disclaimers. Words of Wisdom!
"Proselytizing is prohibited! As is sleeping!"
"I don't want to be a gold digger. Couldn't I dig something else?"
Shaena: "It (spider) was running really fast for something dead."
april: "Nah, that was just...rigor."
Manda: "You're etymologically awesome!"
Ben: "Yeah! Entymologically...somethin."
"Good try...heh heh... COMPLETELY wrong! Heh heh..." (Professor to student)
"I make it up...I'd encourage you guys to do the same."
"I wrote a LOT in the syllabus! This is like a magnificent work of fiction!"
"I've been studying like a...zombie."
I''m not even sure what this is, but it's tense."
"It's very difficult to be just a normal, crazy monk who just lives by himself."
"It would be really scary if Robin Williams were anywhere in the building."
"Soap opera is essential to human survival."
"You will end up dead, or in a monastery."
"One of the ways that we can tell Goths apart from Romans is that Goths have GREAT names."
"I'm serious...in a kidding way."
"Why are you laughing for no reason?"
A: "Nobody think about anything!"
D: "I'm not thinking about cake."
"Everything that everybody has said is additionally true."
"Does anybody know Matthew? Aside from the people that know him?"
"What I want to do is orally take notes on these."
"Most of what I say is useless."
"Imagine that, but they don't burn them. Or set them on fire."
"I'm not competitive. I just like to fight."
"I used my crafty, crafty cunning. But it was an accident."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Bits of Heart on Scraps of Paper
Once in a while I come across a line of thought scribbled down on a piece of scrap paper, generally folded up and stained blue from the inside of a dark wash denim pocket. One bearing the following thoughts came to light recently, and I feel like God's been laying it on my heart to share. I only remember writing this vaguely, and can't authoritatively say what or why I was writing, but it was written, so here it is...with very limited edits made. actually, I just fixed two or three word things. Punctuation intact...mostly.
I'm learning about limitations. I see with clarity all too clear that I cannot choose to have a talent. I cannot make myself eloquent, witty, or well known. I can't will my voice to sound sweeter, my face to be prettier, or my body to be graceful. Schedule and plan as I may, I cannot make my life look fuller. There is much in my life that I myself cannot influence or change- no matter how much I pine, whine, or try. There is nothing in me that makes me able to change or influence those things. They are beyond me.
However- I can choose to cling to the Cross of my King. I can love the One who first loved me. I can trust that He's near when I feel alone and lonely. I can willfully surrender my dreams. I can know that He is good when my whole life feels wrong. In facing the painful truths attached to what I am not,cannot and never could be, I'm learning about the things that I am and can be... things that God has given me that have nothing to do with myself. I've come to the conclusion that I should not be "settling" for the life that God has given me. There is a huge mass of things in my life that I am completely undeserving of. I should cherish the life I've been given for the value of the Truth that it holds.
If this is all that I can be, then I will be this with all of my might-with every ounce of me there is to be with, and with every moment that I have to surrender. My goal is the Glory of my God...not to obtain, but to magnify. Not to gain, but surrender. Not to "settle," but to dwell- and to live richly in His grace....that's all.
I'm learning about limitations. I see with clarity all too clear that I cannot choose to have a talent. I cannot make myself eloquent, witty, or well known. I can't will my voice to sound sweeter, my face to be prettier, or my body to be graceful. Schedule and plan as I may, I cannot make my life look fuller. There is much in my life that I myself cannot influence or change- no matter how much I pine, whine, or try. There is nothing in me that makes me able to change or influence those things. They are beyond me.
However- I can choose to cling to the Cross of my King. I can love the One who first loved me. I can trust that He's near when I feel alone and lonely. I can willfully surrender my dreams. I can know that He is good when my whole life feels wrong. In facing the painful truths attached to what I am not,cannot and never could be, I'm learning about the things that I am and can be... things that God has given me that have nothing to do with myself. I've come to the conclusion that I should not be "settling" for the life that God has given me. There is a huge mass of things in my life that I am completely undeserving of. I should cherish the life I've been given for the value of the Truth that it holds.
If this is all that I can be, then I will be this with all of my might-with every ounce of me there is to be with, and with every moment that I have to surrender. My goal is the Glory of my God...not to obtain, but to magnify. Not to gain, but surrender. Not to "settle," but to dwell- and to live richly in His grace....that's all.
Words of Wisdom Summer 2011
Disclaimer: On occasion I forget to, or maybe opt not to write down the name of a quote's crafter. That said, if you find that I have quoted you and not given credit, I'd be glad to change that. Please advise me as to which quote is yours and I'd be delighted oblige! Also, if you find that you are credited with a quote you would rather not recieve credit for, the same pretty much applies. You may notice that for somebody who says so many ridiculous things, I don't include a huge quantity of personal quotations. This is because things said by myself are generally included only at the insistence of others, or as anonymous contributions. Want the same immunity? Write your own quotes! Enough disclaimers. Words of Wisdom!
"Stuff is hard to say in general...that's why I don't say stuff very often."
-Ben Dykes
"Who is eating weeds? Oh, it's just the guy across the street."
"We demand that you care"
-Amanda Dykes
"Can I use your brain? (long pause, while a certain ex-roommate laughs hysterically) ...but really...can I use it now?" (concerned face)
-april dawne
Shaena: "Whay can't I be a super hero?"
April: "Seriously? What super hero is named 'The Googler?"
"We can all sit everywhere...at once."
-Amanda Dykes
"Cause there are always problems...sometimes."
-Cheyenne
"SAND can drown you! So can a podium." (Smug face, significant nod)
-Ben Dykes
"It's like a tempestuous...bush."
"There's nothing chivalrous about warm soda."
Ian Chase
"All relationships should start with a good game of (Dance1 Dance! Revolution.)"
-Shaena
"I'm freakishly tall, so people stare at me all day..."
Ian Chase
"The next time I see you, I hope you're more ethnic."
"Apparently my car can't be broken into properly."
"I never know what to say right now."
"Dang it! I didn't even know the ONE thing that I knew!"
"We're sitting in companionable silence! Well...we were..."
"(Being spit on) is the most amazing, strange experience..."
Ben Dykes
"Trespassing is one of the things I'm working on."
"This is an information dense class. This is like, STUFF!"
"There's a lot of writing and SOME thinking."
"you don't need to see the beautiful colors of my terrible maps."
"Stuff is hard to say in general...that's why I don't say stuff very often."
-Ben Dykes
"Who is eating weeds? Oh, it's just the guy across the street."
"We demand that you care"
-Amanda Dykes
"Can I use your brain? (long pause, while a certain ex-roommate laughs hysterically) ...but really...can I use it now?" (concerned face)
-april dawne
Shaena: "Whay can't I be a super hero?"
April: "Seriously? What super hero is named 'The Googler?"
"We can all sit everywhere...at once."
-Amanda Dykes
"Cause there are always problems...sometimes."
-Cheyenne
"SAND can drown you! So can a podium." (Smug face, significant nod)
-Ben Dykes
"It's like a tempestuous...bush."
"There's nothing chivalrous about warm soda."
Ian Chase
"All relationships should start with a good game of (Dance1 Dance! Revolution.)"
-Shaena
"I'm freakishly tall, so people stare at me all day..."
Ian Chase
"The next time I see you, I hope you're more ethnic."
"Apparently my car can't be broken into properly."
"I never know what to say right now."
"Dang it! I didn't even know the ONE thing that I knew!"
"We're sitting in companionable silence! Well...we were..."
"(Being spit on) is the most amazing, strange experience..."
Ben Dykes
"Trespassing is one of the things I'm working on."
"This is an information dense class. This is like, STUFF!"
"There's a lot of writing and SOME thinking."
"you don't need to see the beautiful colors of my terrible maps."
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Botany
Sometimes I pick dandelions. Sometimes, I leave them places for somebody to discover and be delighted by. Sometimes I give them away. Sometimes I keep them on the dash of my car....right next to my Dalek air freshener/navigation thing. Just recently, I've become increasingly committed to the idea that dandelions are my favorite flower....this musement was the result of somebody telling me that nobody cared if I picked them because they are weeds. Rather than pick a fight in my free time, I went off slightly indignant and significantly smug in my assurance that dandelions are indeed NOT weeds. Weeds are categorized as such because they are not wanted. Botanically speaking, a weed could be any plant at all, so long as SOMEBODY doesn't want them. I know, because the internet said so. Now I'm saying it on the internet, so it's extra true. Don't tell me that dandelions are weeds unless you have a genuine desire to cross blades with me. I won't believe you, and will quite likely make a significant fuss. At any rate, I have a point.
I love dandelions because they're the underdog of the world of flora. I love them because they are one of the first signs of spring after long winter days, and one of the last vestiges of fall. For that I love their tenacity. I love that they thrive on little to no sustenance. They transform completely, they are prolific, and they're a cheery yellow color. They don't need to be coddled, they don't have thorns, and they thrive in the face of direct opposition- all kinds of it. Herbicides, pre-emergent, lawn mowers, asparagus knives, and the unappreciative public in general. Why is it that rose bushes get so much attention? They have to be pruned, dusted, sprayed, irrigated, covered, and for all that, they still scratch people! Also they taste terrible. They smell nice and look pretty, though. Now don't get me wrong- if you've got somebody bringing you roses you officially have my envy. They're beautiful flowers and they have the fortunate family trait of being related to apples, so...that's good. Just so that it's been said, you should never, EVER eat florist roses, or roses that are chemically treated, or may have been chemically treated. So....organic's the way to go? Anyhow, just for the record, dandelions are actually consumable and are not uncommonly used for homeopathic whatnots....the chemical warning stands, though.
The history nerd in me is tempted to compare dandelions to Alexander the Great, and leave roses to signify Caligula, or Nero, or some overly oppulent, somewhat inept Roman ruler....like Commodus. For all that..I know that I personally am minded of a more significant comparison. As a Christian, I'm well aware that I tend to be a rose- concerned with appearances and wanting special treatment, but ultimately retaining (in my mind) the right to scratch and prick at those who get too close. I want to be a dandelion. Content to be nothing, willing to be used for the benefit of others, prolific in the sharing of the love I've been given, and willing to be completely transformed for that purpose. That's all.
"Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are."
-Oswald Chambers
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as true strength."
-DeSales
I love dandelions because they're the underdog of the world of flora. I love them because they are one of the first signs of spring after long winter days, and one of the last vestiges of fall. For that I love their tenacity. I love that they thrive on little to no sustenance. They transform completely, they are prolific, and they're a cheery yellow color. They don't need to be coddled, they don't have thorns, and they thrive in the face of direct opposition- all kinds of it. Herbicides, pre-emergent, lawn mowers, asparagus knives, and the unappreciative public in general. Why is it that rose bushes get so much attention? They have to be pruned, dusted, sprayed, irrigated, covered, and for all that, they still scratch people! Also they taste terrible. They smell nice and look pretty, though. Now don't get me wrong- if you've got somebody bringing you roses you officially have my envy. They're beautiful flowers and they have the fortunate family trait of being related to apples, so...that's good. Just so that it's been said, you should never, EVER eat florist roses, or roses that are chemically treated, or may have been chemically treated. So....organic's the way to go? Anyhow, just for the record, dandelions are actually consumable and are not uncommonly used for homeopathic whatnots....the chemical warning stands, though.
The history nerd in me is tempted to compare dandelions to Alexander the Great, and leave roses to signify Caligula, or Nero, or some overly oppulent, somewhat inept Roman ruler....like Commodus. For all that..I know that I personally am minded of a more significant comparison. As a Christian, I'm well aware that I tend to be a rose- concerned with appearances and wanting special treatment, but ultimately retaining (in my mind) the right to scratch and prick at those who get too close. I want to be a dandelion. Content to be nothing, willing to be used for the benefit of others, prolific in the sharing of the love I've been given, and willing to be completely transformed for that purpose. That's all.
"Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are."
-Oswald Chambers
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as true strength."
-DeSales
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